Friday, April 20, 2007

Good, Cheap Car Mechanics in A2 - Love Your Hoopty




Many MBA2s are leaving A2 to head off to MBA power jobs where they will make big bucks and then buy shiny new cars. Of course, you may still have to drive the hoopty you've had since you were 19 back to Some-where-town, U.S.A. If you need to take her in for one final check-up, tune-up, maintenance, etc. so that she will hold together long enough for you to drive her back, check out some of these "good, cheap car mechanics" recently recommended by some Ann Arbor natives and UMich students. For the MBA1s and incoming students, bookmark this page as you may need it for future reference next year!

"I would highly recommend Jamie Neylon, owner of Jamie's Lakewood Auto on South Industrial. (734) 668-9339. We have found him to be very knowledgeable, sincere, and trustworthy, as well as reasonably priced. "

"If you're car happens to be a Japanese brand, Joe at Japanese Auto -
563 S Main St, Ann Arbor, 48104 - (734) 996-4606 is the best around at
least in my experience."

"I heard from my friends that the Auto Shop in Shell on Plymouth Rd., North Campus is quite good. Two of my friends have their car fixed there."

"We've found Joe at Japanese Auto to be excellent too. They're thorough at inspections, and he'll tell you what you need to fix immediately and what you can live with. He's also told me that I didn't need a repair that I thought I did, which is always good in a mechanic. 743 930-2277"

"My previous car was a real clunker and I typically had it serviced at Mallek's. It's the gas station at the Y-junction when Huron splits and becomes Jackson and Dexter. They were brutally honest about the state of my car and how long I should keep it going :)" 1500 Jackson Avenue

"I have a lot of respect for Jack at the Marathon station on the corner of Miller and North Maple on the NW side of town. He seems to be able to fix any kind of car, and he's honest. "

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Thursday, April 19, 2007

Internship Success Tips

Below are the top 10 internship success tips from the Ross MBA BBSA Class of 2007. The list was created by compiling feedback and advice from our individual members. We hope that you find this information helpful!

INTERNSHIP SUCCESS TOP 10 LIST

10. Go to ALL formal internship events and any informal events that you can. Your commitment to the internship and your interest in the company will be partially judged based on whether you make the internship social events a priority.

9. Find a mentor. Make sure you have a more senior “go-to” person in the company that you can bounce project ideas off of and ask for suggestions on how to do your best throughout the internship.

8. NEVER, EVER, present a negative attitude about the internship with anyone you work with. It WILL get back to people that make decisions even if you just think you’re having a casual conversation.

7. Meet with your manager weekly. Don’t give him/her an excuse to think that you’re not on top of your projects. Use this time to manage your boss’s expectations. If you’re getting the sense that your workload may be more than you can handle during 10 or 12 weeks, start to indicate that early so there are no surprises later.

6. Build a good working relationship with your direct manager and make sure that your manager’s boss knows who you are. These are the people that will have the most influence in your full time offer decision making process. They MUST have a good opinion of you and your work.

5. Ask for feedback – make sure you know where you stand throughout the summer. Whether or not your company requires it, make sure to have a sit down performance review with your manager mid-summer. Also make sure you’re getting a sense for your manager’s level of satisfaction with your performance during your weekly meetings.

4. Revise your final project presentation early. Run your project presentation by your manager and anyone else with an interest in your project at least a week before the final presentation. You want to make sure you have plenty of time to incorporate their feedback and to set their expectations about the direction your project is going.

3. Ask questions and ask for help when you need it! No one expects you to know everything. Ask your manager, people in other functions in the company, other interns, the BBSA - anyone that may be able to help. Leverage your networks to get the information you need. Do recognize a limit however. Asking questions to bring together all of the relevant data and come to a great conclusion will be respected. Getting so much help that other people are basically doing your project for you will not.

2. Understand the expectations early. Everything from your expected work hours to the preferred communication style to appropriate work attire to the format of your final projects should be very clear to you by the end of your first week. Fall short on these minor things and the company may feel you’re not the right “fit” at the end of the summer.

1. Network! Schedule as many lunch/coffee meet and greets as possible while still maintaining focus on your projects. Target Ross alums and senior level people at your company. Get on their calendars early in the summer and be proactive about introducing yourself. Even if the company does not end up being the best fit for you, relationships you build over the summer can help you later in your career.

Tuesday, April 03, 2007

Student Spotlight - Todd LeBlanc MBA 2007

Todd LeBlanc
Hometown: Houston, TX

Undergrad: Rice University, BA in Economics and Managerial Studies

Pre-MBA Career: Human Resources Consulting

Post-MBA: McKinsey & Company

What is your long term career goal?
Long term, I plan to transition into a role that will allow me make an impact on the delivery of health care in underserved communities. There are a significant number of hospitals that are failing their populace due to gross mismanagement. Many have provided quality care in the past, and were once beacons within their communities. My ultimate aspiration is to develop turnaround protocols which can be replicated and implemented in health care institutions throughout the country.

Favorite Course or Professor at RSB and why?
Entrepreneurial Turnaround Management. The course is taught by Keith Alessi, a corporate turnaround artist and former CEO (Ross alum as well). His class is great because it draws primarily on both his successes and missteps in managing companies. You can’t beat a teacher that is informative and entertaining in the same breath.

How has the BBSA shaped your Ross experience?
Interaction with BBSA members prior to business school was integral to my decision to attend Ross. There is no question BBSA is one of the most active and dynamic student groups on campus. BBSA professional programming has afforded opportunities to network with companies in intimate settings. Academic support has been available throughout my two years at Ross. Our community service activities have provided a forum through which we can give back. In spite of all of the programming BBSA provides, the best aspect is the support system that creates a true sense of family throughout the organization.

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